Welcome to Wolves Roundup, a weekly report of highlights, notes and transactions from the Chicago Wolves’ previous week of competition during the 2016-17 season.
ON DECK
Wednesday, Oct. 19 | vs. Milwaukee^ | Allstate Arena | 7 p.m. CT |
Saturday, Oct. 22 | at San Antonio# | AT&T Center | 7 p.m. CT |
Sunday, Oct. 23 | at San Antonio* | AT&T Center | 3 p.m. CT |
^ AHL Live only, * U Too, #CW50
Games will be telecast live on CW50 or U Too; visit ChicagoWolves.com for a complete broadcast schedule; all games stream live on AHLLive.com
TOP LINE
Vince Dunn
The Chicago Wolves’ rookie defenseman made his professional debut on Saturday in a 4-2 loss against the Grand Rapids Griffins. In the second period, Dunn put the Wolves on the board past the midway point of the frame when he lasered a shot past Jared Coreau from the left point. Dunn picked up his second point of the game, and his career, in the same period when he registered the second assist on Ivan Barbashev’s net-front deflection.
Landon Ferraro
The Wolves center fared well against the team with which he started his professional career, the Grand Rapids Griffins. In two games against the Griffins, Ferraro picked up two points (2A), had 6 shots on goal and posted a +1 plus/minus rating.
Ville Husso
The rookie netminder made his North American professional debut on Saturday night in a 4-2 setback against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Despite the loss, Husso made some key saves late in the second period and early in the third to keep it a 3-2 game. He turned aside 24 of 28 shots he faced. Husso backed up third-year AHL goaltender Jordan Binnington in Friday’s season opener but did not see game action.
Brett Sterling
The veteran right wing returned to AHL action with the Chicago Wolves for the first time since April 21, 2013. Friday night in Grand Rapids, Sterling netted the lone Wolves marker for his 309th point with Chicago. He’s looking to move up the franchise all-time scoring list; currently ranked No. 5, Sterling is 34 points away from catching former teammate, Jason Krog, who’s No. 4 on the list. Sterling also ranks No. 2 on the club’s all-time goal list with 168. Wolves legend Steve Maltais is No. 1 with 454 goals.
WOLF TRACKS
All Aboard | The Chicago Wolves and Milwaukee Admirals renew their decades-old clash on Wednesday (Oct. 19) in the first of 12 Amtrak Rivalry meetings. The clubs last met on April 12 with Milwaukee winning the game 3-1 and the season series 9-3-0-0.m.
Texas Forever | This weekend, the Chicago Wolves head to Texas for back-to-back games against the San Antonio Rampage. This marks the 15th consecutive season the teams have faced off. The Wolves hold a 54-30-4-1-3 edge in the series. Both games will be broadcast live throughout the Chicago area. Visit ChicagoWolves.com for a complete 2016-17 Chicago Wolves telecast schedule.
New Season, New Faces | Over the weekend, five rookies made their professional debuts with the Chicago Wolves. On Friday night, Samuel Blais, Conner Bleackley and Mackenzie MacEachern all began their professional careers in Wolves uniforms. Blais (2) and MacEachern (1) had a combined three shots on goal, while Bleackley and MacEachern each recorded two penalty minutes. On Saturday night, Vince Dunn made the jump from junior to pro while Ville Husso played his first North American professional game. Dunn tallied two points, including his first career goal, and Husso turned aside 24 shots in a 4-2 loss against the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Stick It to Breast Cancer | This October, as part of the Chicago Wolves’ Breast Cancer Awareness initiatives, fans can honor a breast cancer survivor of their choice by donating $175 — the cost of a mammogram for someone who can’t afford one — to obtain a player-used stick. A Wolves player of the fan’s choice will write their selected survivor’s name on a his stick and use it during the Oct. 29 game. Afterward, fans that have purchased sticks will meet the player that honored their survivor. The player will present the fan with the stick and take a professional portrait with the fan. To learn more about the Chicago Wolves BCA initiatives, visit ChicagoWolves.com.
REWIND
Friday, Oct. 14
Grand Rapids 3, Chicago 1
- The Wolves opened the season on the road falling to their Lake Michigan rival, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
- Veteran left wing Brett Sterling scored the Wolves’ lone marker of the game; it marked his first goal with the Wolves since April 16, 2013.
- Goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 31 of 33 shots in his 2016-17 season debut.
- Mitch Callahan accounted for two of three Grand Rapids’ goals, and Jared Coreau made 27 saves.
Saturday, Oct. 15
Grand Rapids 4, Chicago 2
- The Wolves closed out opening weekend 0-2, dropping their home opener against the Grand Rapids.
- Griffins Grand Rapids opened scoring on an Anthony Mantha breakaway on the way to a 3-0 lead.
- Chicago got on the board in the second period when rookie defenseman Vince Dunn netted his first professional goal, then Ivan Barbashev deflected a Brad Hunt blast for the Wolves’ second tally.
- Rookie netminder Ville Husso made some key saves and turned aside 24 of 28 shots.